Having led by two at the break, the Young Lions had to survive some pressure in the second period as the visitors clawed their way back into the contest, but the maturity of the hosts paid off as they were 2-1 victors.
The result ensures that they go into the final game of The FA International Tournament against Portugal on Sunday knowing that a positive result will see them win the competition.
England 2-1 Turkey
U17s FA International Tournament
Friday 28 August 2015
Banks’s Stadium, Walsall FC
The contest had started in an even manner, with the hosts unable to pick up where they left off from their 3-0 triumph over Italy on Wednesday.
Steve Cooper’s side were matched for the opening exchanges as the visitors enjoyed an equal amount of the possession but neither side created anything clear cut.
As we reached the halfway point of the half, chances were still few and far between, and it needed a spark to ignite it – and that’s exactly what arrived in the 20th minute. Collecting possession around 30 yards out, Dozzell drove forwards towards goal before unleashing a powerful left-footed drive from the D to break the deadlock.
Highlights: England 2-1 Turkey
Another chance fell England’s way shortly after, Jonathan Leko running down the right and cutting the ball back for Elliot Embleton, but the keeper palmed the Sunderland youngster’s effort wide.
The hosts looked to have taken control as the half wore on, but Huseyin Bulut ensured they had to remain on their guard when he showed neat trickery before firing into the side-netting from the edge of the area.
Andre Dozzell fired England into the lead
As the additional time was shown on the stroke of the break the Young Lions doubled their advantage, although it took Shashoua two bites of the cherry to convert.
Tyrese Campbell burst down the left and crossed for Shashoua who miscued his effort towards the corner flag. Luckily Keanan Bennetts, who had earlier replaced Leko, was alert to keep play alive and he pushed the ball back into the danger zone for his Tottenham team-mate to side-foot home.
If Cooper’s charges thought they were home and dry then they were mistaken as the visitors burst out the traps after the restart and they were soon back in it. Guven Yalcin was fouled by Diego Latte inside the area and Ufukcan Engin stepped up to convert the spot-kick.
Turkey continued to press and Ipswich Town shotstopper Nicholas Hayes had to be alert to stop Omer Faruk Canbridi’s fierce free-kick and several other long range efforts as the Young Lions had to survive a spell of pressure.
Samuel Shashoua is congratulated by Keanan Bennetts after his winner
They showed a good maturity to see off the threat, managing possession well to take the sting out of Turkey’s play and get themselves back on the front foot. In fact they could have stretched their advantage as play entered the final ten minutes. Embleton found Campbell unmarked with a corner, but the Manchester City forward sent his header inches wide of the goal.
Next up for England is the winner takes all final game against the Portuguese, who struck six without reply past Italy earlier, at Burton Albion.
England (4-2-3-1): 13 Nicholas Hayes (Ipswich Town); 16 Diego Lattie (Manchester City), 2 Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea), 6 Edward Francis (Manchester City), 3 Vashon Neufville (West Ham United); 14 Charlie Gilmour (Arsenal), 12 Elliot Embleton (Sunderland); 7 Jonathan Leko (West Brom), 8 Andre Dozzell (Ipswich Town), 19 Samuel Shashoua (Tottenham Hotspur); 18 Tyrese Campbell (Manchester City).
Subs: 11 Keanan Bennetts (Tottenham Hotspur) for Leko (30), 17 Jordan Williams (Huddersfield Town) for Chalobah (41), 15 Mackenzie Heaney (Newcastle United) for Dozzell (55), 5 Jaden Brown (Tottenham Hotspur) for Latte (55), 4 Sadou Diallo (Manchester City) for Gilmour (65), 9 Niall Ennis (Wolves) for Shashoua (65).
Subs not used: 1 Matthew Yates (Derby County), 10 Adam Lewis (Liverpool)
Goals: Dozzell (20), Shashoua (40)
Head coach: Steve Cooper
Turkey (4-2-3-1): 1 Batuhan Ahmet Sen, 13 Muharrem Oner, 4 Recep Yemisci, 17 Abdullah Kasap, 3 Furkan Korkut; 6 Oguz Kagan Guctekin, 5 Ufukcan Engin; 11 Omer Faruk Canbirdi, 8 Abdulkadir Omur (C), 15 Guven Yalcin; 16 Huseyin Bulut
Subs: 2 Ali Ulgen for Korkut (35), 7 Mahsun Capkan for Yalcin (53), 18 Ahmet Hakan Sevinc for Canbirdi (76), 9 Kutay Aydin for Bulut (76)
Subs not used: 12 Sabri Gundogan, 10 Cafer Tosun, 14 Deniz Bulut,
Goals: Engin (49)
Head coach: Mehmet Haci Oglu
